The "Outing" magazine article has some serious errors with the chronology of arms.
examples:
1. Error Regarding - Snider Breech-Loading conversion of Enfield M.L. Rifles and sale of unconverted Enfield Rifles to American C.W. combatants.
(The British Government Enfield-Snider-Conversions were performed after the American Civil War. The .577 caliber "Enfield"-Muzzle-Loaders, used by the Confederacy and Union forces, were privately made copies by Birmingham and London based manufacturers. These arms were 'commercial proofed' by private Proof-Houses and are usually marked with the rather misleading and official-sounding "Tower" name. Adding to the confusion, the British Government also purchased privately made 1853 "Enfield" Rifles, marked "Tower", in the mid-1850's during the Crimean War).
2. Error Regarding -The mention of Gras and Chassepot rifles being used during the Franco-Prussian War-1871.
(The Chassepot needle-gun along with numerous other supplemental arms were used by the French Military, during this conflict.
The Gras rifle came later. It was a metallic cartridge conversion and update of the combustible cartridge Chassepot).
FWIW - Old literature, (just like recent & current literature and the internet), can be a wonderful source of information, but, it also creates or perpetuates many myths.
Also, BTW - Human creativity, being what it is, after the "Dum-Dum Bullet" was banned by Convention, the British devised a light-nosed 'Spitzer' pointed projectile that 'tumbled' on impact, to create severe wounds.
(The English are a diabolical people, as my ancestors learned).
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